The Grove Report

Pair of Rebels Among Highest-Graded Returning SEC Edge Rushers in 2023

The Ole Miss Rebels are entering the 2023 season with two of the top edge defenders in the Southeastern Conference.

Ben King

OXFORD, Miss. -- While the spotlight has mainly been on the returning offensive talent the Ole Miss Rebels possess heading into their 2023 campaign, there are key players on defense who are poised for an impactful season. 

Pro Football Focus released rankings for the 10 highest-graded returning edge rushers in the SEC on Friday, and Ole Miss defensive linemen Isaac Ukwu and Jared Ivey both made the list, coming in at No. 2 and No. 6, respectively. Ukwu earned a PFF grade of 79.3 and Ivey was given a rating of 74.7.

PFF grades are determined on a play-by-play basis, and posit how much an individual player "contributes to production" on every snap.

Florida Gators edge defender Princely Umanmielen leads all returning SEC edge rushers with an 82.1 grade, followed by Kentucky Wildcat JJ Weaver (78.9), Missouri Tiger Nyles Gaddy (78.3), Arkansas Razorback John Morgan III (77.6), Florida Gator Justus Boone (73.9), Tennessee Volunteer (73.7), Alabama Crimson Tide Dallas Turner (73.1), and Georgia Bulldog Mykel Williams (71.5).

Ukwu is rated as the No. 2 returning edge threat in the SEC after he registered 40 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble last fall with the James Madison Dukes. 

The senior spent the last three seasons with James Madison before electing to transfer to Ole Miss in May. Ukwu recorded 87 tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, 16.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and five passes defended in his time with the Dukes.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive lineman earned all 16.5 of his career sacks in the last two years.

Ivey is coming off his first season in an Ole Miss uniform where he registered 38 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Ivey elected to transfer to Ole Miss ahead of the 2022 season after spending the first two years of his career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 

Both Ukwu and Ivey are expected to be key pieces in Ole Miss' defensive line rotation this fall under new defensive coordinator Pete Golding.

You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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Ben King
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